California flight training fix clears state legislature

A bill that would exempt California fight training organizations from onerous fees and reporting requirements imposed by a 2009 post-secondary education law took a major step toward becoming law Aug. 30 with approval by the state Senate.

The Assembly approved Senate Bill 619 Aug. 25, and it was then referred back to the Senate, which had passed the measure in May, for adoption of technical corrections. The corrections include an urgency clause that would make the bill effective immediately on its being signed by Gov. Jerry Brown.

“AOPA and its allies have kept the pressure up on this issue for more than a year,” said Greg Pecoraro, AOPA Vice President of Airports and State Advocacy. “Today we are inches away from the finish line. It has been a great opportunity to educate legislators on the value of California’s General Aviation industry, and we are now making our case to Governor Brown.”

The California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009, as originally passed, could have put some flight schools and independent flight instructors out of business because of the compliance burdens it imposed.

The measure to fix that problem, sponsored by state Sen. Jean Fuller, exempts schools that do not “require students to enter into written or oral contracts of indebtedness, do not require prepayment of tuition or fees, and do not accept prepayment of tuition or fees in excess of $2,500.”

Pecoraro noted that “everything is on track” for prompt completion of the process following the Assembly vote.